MALTA, with mild winters and warm summers,  is the ideal place to have either a holiday home or retirement home. Being an English speaking country, Malta has, for many years, been particularly popular with the British - many of whom own property here.

The cost of property in Malta depends on the size and locality.

MALTASSIST can help you in acquiring such a property.

European Union law allows EU citizens to purchase property in any member state without restrictions. However, in Malta ’s case, restrictions apply even to EU citizens. There are various reasons that led the other EU member states to allow such special treatment for Malta . During the pre-accession negotiations, Malta has presented its case arguing that EU membership could increase the demand on property on the island, affecting the price of immovable property and leaving a negative social impact on Maltese families. Malta also argued that this concern was of a permanent nature requiring a permanent derogation rather than a transitional arrangement. In addition, Malta is the most densely populated EU country.

Having presented these concerns, Malta acquired a permanent arrangement restricting the purchasing of property by EU citizens on a non-discriminatory basis. The conditions for the acquisition of property in Malta , following this permanent derogation, are as follows:

1. An EU citizen who would like to move his or her primary residence to Malta may do so with the necessity of obtaining a permit under Chapter 246 of the Laws of Malta and without any restrictions on pricing
2. An EU citizen who would like to purchase a holiday home in Malta while retaining his or her primary residence in his/her home country (EU member state or non-EU country) needs to apply for a permit for the acquisition of immovable property. The minimum price for the purchase of an apartment or maisonette should be Lm30,000 (circa €70000) while that of any other immovable property should be not less than Lm50,000 (€117000).
3. An EU citizen who has been residing in Malta (paying taxes) for less than five years and would like to buy a secondary home also in Malta , must apply for a permit for the acquisition of immovable property. Again the minimum price for the purchase  of an apartment or maisonette should be Lm30,000 (€70000), while that of any other immovable property should not be less than Lm50,000 (€117000).
4. An EU citizen who has been residing in Malta (paying taxes) for more than five years uninterrupted, and would like to buy a secondary home also in Malta , may do so without  the necessity to apply for a permit or any restrictions on pricing.

Non-EU citizens may not acquire immovable property in Malta unless they are granted a permit as required by Chapter 245 of the Laws of Malta.

Malta has a number of defined zones where the above restrictions do not apply. These zones are Fort Chambray in Gozo, Portomaso Development, Cottonera Development and Manoel Island/Tigne Point.